Match Report by Ned Payne (Swindon Advertiser)

Until the weekend, Supermarine stand-in stopper James Rae was getting a bit fed up of seeing penalties fly past him. The former Bournemouth YTS trainee had been beaten from the spot three times in five league matches since being thrown into the Southern Premier side several weeks ago, but that run changed against play-off chasing Leamington at the Webb’s Wood Stadium on Saturday.

With the score locked at 0-0 approaching the hour mark, Dave Bampton hauled down Michael Tuohy in the area, and Luke Corbett’s low, central effort hit the foot of Rae and looped to safety. Soon after the 21-year-old was again required to intervene as he brilliantly parried a Tuohy drive that was fizzing towards the right corner.

In the 69th minute Marine swung the game in their favour as Nick Stanley sent Tony Breeden the wrong way from the spot, following the goalkeeper’s industrial body check on Luke Hopper.

Rae joked afterwards: “It was about time I saved a penalty. “I’ve dived past it and just flicked my foot out, and by the off-chance it got to it. “The second shot I didn’t see until very late, and it was just a case of getting myself down there and getting my arm out, and luckily I saved it.”

With former Cirencester midfielder Harry Etheridge starting for Marine in central midfield, it was a largely uninspiring opening 45 minutes in South Marston. Proceedings came to life soon after the break when Rae kept out Corbett’s spot kick and then denied Tuohy low to his left. Stanley struck home from the spot shortly after, before stopper Breeden, already booked, was extremely lucky to stay on the field after virtually rugby-tackling Mitchell Bryant on the right flank.

There were a couple of nervy moments for Marine in a frantic finish, but they held on for three points against the visiting Brakes.